Write a comment
A local MP is trying to forward an ambitious project in the Rotrevor area that would restore ancient woodland, create a sea to summit wood and renew ancient bogland.
Last weekend South Down MP Chris Hazzard hosted representatives from Newry, Mourne & Down Council, Forestry Service, Woodland Trust, the Mourne Heritage Trust, Ulster Wildlife, and local campaigners at the Cloughmore Centre in Kilbroney, Rostrevor to discuss the way forward for a 'Sea to Summit' ecological restoration project.
Mr Hazzard said “Here in South Down we are privileged to have some spectacularly nature rich habitat - from the heath, peat and woodland of the Mournes; to our coastal dune heath and wetlands stretching from Strangford Lough in the north east, to the Carlingford Lough in the South West of the constituency.
“However parts of the Mournes require a significant investment in peatland restoration to stop runaway blanket bog collapse - especially in parts of the higher Mournes - and a natural regeneration and rewilding of woodland on the lower slopes.
"While the ancient native woodland in Castlewellan and Tollymore have been almost entirely eradicated by state driven forestry, the remnant oak wood in Rostrevor is one of the few remaining native oak woods in Ireland; with the 14 hectare site hugging the northern coastline of Carlingford Lough, rising steeply up the side of Cloughmore."
Mr Hazzard added “Significantly a recent mapping exercise by local environmental activists has logged many hundreds of relict oak trees in the surrounding 200 hectares of forest, with a vibrant forest floor holding a rich ancient oak seedbank teaming with potential for regeneration.
“With the ongoing review of the Down Forestry Plan, and the infestation of P-Ramorum within the forest which requires clearing of huge areas of Larch & Spruce in the next few years, this location is now uniquely suitable for one of the most ambitious rewilding projects in Ireland.
“The vision involves three main components. Firstly we want to restore the greatest possible area of ancient woodland by removing non-native planted conifers and protecting the relic oak trees.
“Secondly we want to create Ireland’s only ’Sea to Summit’ natural, native woodland. With each part of the forest ecosystem having its own unique set of plant relationships in its shrub, field and ground layers - ultimately it will be a forest free to move up or down the slopes as the climate changes.
“Finally we want to restore the blanket bog connected to this woodland habitat. Large areas of Kilbroney and the Red Bog were drained and planted with Sitka Spruce - not only destroying the biodiversity of the bog, but also emitting significant amounts of Carbon. The arrival of forestry in the bog also brought with it predators who have naturally had a negative impact on the ground-nesting, wading birds like the Curlew.
Mr Hazzard concluded “This ecological restoration project is hugely ambitious, but also hugely important. So I want to thank the different agencies for bringing huge amounts of expertise and enthusiasm to the discussion, and for their commitment to be involved in this process going forward."
